[Source: Ken Alltucker, Arizona Republic] — A downtown Phoenix laboratory will claim a share of $275 million in federal research grants that will drive a massive study of the genetic roots of cancer. The International Genomics Consortium, at the Phoenix Biomedical Campus, said the cancer-research project called the Cancer Genome Atlas will allow the biomedical research lab to more than triple its workforce of 45 employees.

Lab managers still do not know how much money they will get, but the scope of the project could require IGC to add more than 100 high-paying jobs such as scientists and lab technicians to downtown Phoenix. “It’s a remarkable award for Arizona,” said Robert Penny, IGC’s chief operating officer. “This is a big honor for us to be part of this bold initiative.”

Although the Atlas project could be the largest new science project for Arizona, research labs across the state will be buzzing with activity due to a new batch of federal stimulus grants. Arizona scientists secured 101 research grants that are collectively worth more than $33 million, a Republic analysis of National Institutes of Health records shows. The grants are part of a $5 billion infusion of stimulus funds announced last week by President Barack Obama. [Note: Read the full article at Federal grants to fund major downtown Phoenix cancer study, other projects.]